District 11 basketball postponement and predictions

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FROM KEITH GROLLER

The District 11 doubleheader scheduled for tonight at Stroudsburg has been postponed and moved to Wednesday night. Same times. That's the one featuring the Lincoln Leadership vs. Pius X boys in the Class A opener at 6 and the Bangor vs. Pocono Mountain West girls in the 4A nightcap.

Now, here are my semifinal boys predictions:

TONIGHT

CLASS 3A

Central Catholic 70, Salisbury 52 -- The Falcons have enough offensive weapons to keep it competitive for awhile, and Salisbury will probably put Justin Aungst on Jeanlee Baez inside after Aungst did such a good job on Wilson's Phil Pierfy the other night. But I think the Vikings have too many weapons, including the LVC's MVP Muhammad Ali Abdur-Rahkman.

Pottsville 51, Becahi 45 -- The Golden Hawks have come a long way this season and they will be in this game until the end. However, I just think the Tide's defense might be a little too difficult to solve, and Pottsville is a little more used to these big games.

CLASS A

Pius X 66, Lincoln Leadership 51 -- I actually covered the first meeting between these two back in January in Roseto. While Lincoln was coming off a big upset win over Dieruff and was kinda flat, I saw the Royals as clearly the better team that night and have no reason to think this meeting will be any different.

Mahanoy Area 48, Marian 43 -- A good, old-fashioned Schuylkill League showdown. Don't expect either team to get to 50. I will go with veteran coach Mickey Holland and the Bears.

TOMORROW

CLASS 4A

Liberty 61, Parkland 56 -- Parkland was super-hot in the first meeting and not-so hot in the second in the LVC final. The Trojans must be close to super-hot to have a chance in this one. Liberty dodged a bullet against Emmaus. The Hurricanes didn't play well at all, and didn't shoot particularly well. I can't imagine them having a second straight clunker.

Freedom 56, Stroudsburg 52 -- I have great respect for Shawn Thornton and the Mountaineers. They have been very impressive in beating Whitehall and Pocono Mountain West in this tourney, but I've been on Freedom all year. After finally finding a way to finish off an opponent and get a big win, I see the Patriots as being more confident than ever. Battle and Clowney are tough for the Mounties, but as long as Freedom stays out of foul trouble, I think Joe Stellato and Co. are going to the district final.

CLASS 2A

Catasauqua 49, Williams Valley 44 -- Tough one because I just don't know how much rust the Roughies have after such a long layoff. They were playing as well as anyone before this nearly three-week gap in games. These Schuylkill League teams are all tough, and play great defense. It won't be easy, but I think Catty finds a way.

Notre Dame 53, North Schuylkill 48 -- The Crusaders at least got a game in during the Colonial League tournament and haven't had quite the gap between games. It's another close one. Eze gives Notre Dame a force inside, but it's still going to come down to the outside shooting for Pat Boyle's crew.